Nortel Networks Corporation

Ciena Corporation

Craig Warren Parker

Craig Donald Suitor

Christopher John Brown

Sandra Fougere

Gerard Leo Swinkels

Doug Wong

Chris Ramsden

Brian Moore

Jocelyn Audette

Luay Zalzalah

Alain Drolet

In an embodiment, a user equipment (UE), establishes a local connection (e.g., USB, Bluetooth, etc.) to a network infrastructure device (e.g., a network switch or router) that is not yet configured for operation on a communications network. The UE obtains, while connected to the network infrastructure device over the local connection, device-identifying information (e.g., a location of the UE, a pre-provisioned identifier for the network infrastructure device, etc.) by which the network infrastructure device can be distinguished from other network infrastructure devices of the same type. The UE loads a configuration installation file that is specially configured for the network infrastructure device based on the obtained device-identifying information. The UE executes the configuration installation file over the local connection to configure the network infrastructure device for operation on the communications network.

Configuring a secure network infrastructure device

A method for enabling Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) routing in a transport network. The method comprises defining a network segment template; instantiating a respective network segment template for each node+link segment of the transport network; and connecting the link area of a first template instance to the node area of a second template instance using a remote ABR. The network segment template comprises a node area for enabling OSPF routing between addresses within a node of the transport network; a link area for enabling OSPF routing between the node and an adjacent neighbor node in the transport network; and a host Area Boarder Router (ABR) connected to the node area and the link area. The host ABR is configured to generate summary Link State Advertisement (LSA) messages containing a summary of addresses in the node area, and forward the summary LSA messages through the link area. The remote ABR is configured to generate summary LSA messages containing a summary of addresses reachable in the node area of the second template instance, and forward the summary LSAs through the link area of the first template instance.

Highly scalable OSPF routing in support of full mesh optical networks

A method and network for adapting a network management protocol (e.g., TL-1) for various transmission protocol terminologies (e.g., SDH and SONET). A network element operates in one transmission protocol mode and sends network management messages to a network management device in a managing terminology based on another transmission protocol mode. The network management device then translates the network management messages to be presented in a user interface at the network management device to an operating terminology based on the operating transmission protocol mode used by the network element.

Method and network for adapting a transaction language for network elements

Described is a network element for a communications network. Management communications with the network element occur using a single IP address. The network element includes two shelf processors each having a negotiations module. One of the shelf processors has a master status and the other shelf processor has a slave status. A backplane in communication with the shelf processors allows the negotiations modules to exchange data and to determine whether one of the shelf processors has experienced a fault. If a fault is determined in the master shelf processor, the slave shelf processor becomes the master shelf processor and the master shelf processor becomes the slave shelf processor.

Single IP address for redundant shelf processors

A system and method for configuring a network element to support protection switching in an optical network are described. The network element can operate according to the SONET, SDH, or both optical transport standards. Each tributary card of the network element has a baseline set of triggering parameters for supporting each protection scheme of both optical transport standards. A baseline parameter set for a given protection scheme has those triggering parameters that are common to SDH and SONET optical transport standards. One or more additional triggering parameters may be needed by a tributary card to complete the implementation of a particular protection scheme. These additional triggering parameters can be sent to the tributary cards, as needed, to supplement the baseline parameter sets.

System and method for configuring a network element to support protection switching in an optical network

A system and method for routing operations, administration, and maintenance traffic for an optical network are described. A subset of a routing information set is transmitted to tributary cards of a network element. The tributary cards route operations, administration, and management traffic based on the subset of the routing information.

System and method for routing traffic in an optical network

A method and network for delivering management software from a network element to a client computer so that the client can configure and manage the network element. The network element includes a master software load and a management software load. The master software load includes software instructions for: enabling the client to log into the network element; and, if the client successfully logs into the network element, forming a management connection between the client and the network element and transferring to the client a current version of management software for execution on the client. The client can then host and execute the management software so that a user can direct operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) of the network element.

Method and network for delivering management software for a network element

Described are a system and method for initializing a traffic card in a network element after a restart. The traffic card receives status information regarding a shelf processor card over a low-level link. If the status information indicates that the shelf processor card is unavailable, the traffic card supports traffic using provisioning data stored at the traffic card. Otherwise, if the status information indicates that the shelf processor card is un-initialized or initializing, the traffic card waits for the shelf processor card to be available. If the shelf processor is operational, the traffic card communicates with the shelf processor card to determine which provisioning data to use. When restarting the card, boot code stored in a first memory bank is executed. If this boot code is determined to be invalid, execution is redirected to boot code stored in a second memory bank to continue the restart process of the card.

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Kanata, Canada

Craig Warren Parker